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 March 22, 2004
Colleyville City Council Candidate Mark Jones Has a Criminal Record
DWI Arrest and Arrest for "Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun by a licensed holder-intoxicated" not revealed on sworn disclosure filed with city under misdemeanor crime of "moral turpitude."
by Staff  LNO Writers

In a search of public records regarding candidates for local offices (Click Here to See Candidates reviewed), a total of 43 candidates were reviewed from Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, Hurst, and North Richland Hills for municipal positions, as well as, GCISD and Carroll ISD for Board of Trustee positions. Out of 43 candidates only one  was discovered to have any criminal record. Current hold-over Colleyville P&Z Commissioner and Colleyville City Council Candidate for Place 5 Mark Jones,  seen below in a  Bedford Police Department mug shot, was arrested around 5 PM on March 23, 1999 for DWI (Driving while Intoxicated) and Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun by a licensed holder-intoxicated.

A Bedford Police Officer witnessed Jones in a black Suburban crashing into a parked vehicle in the Chili's parking lot at 4:54 pm according to the Bedford Police report. The police officer's report stated that the Suburban, "remained attached for several minutes."  Jones was then able to get his black Suburban detached and left the scene of the accident at 2400 Airport Freeway.  Jones was pursued by a Bedford Police officer who writes in her report that, "...the vehicle finally yielded to lights and sirens in the 1800 block of Park Place. The driver drove the vehicle upon the grass in the 2400 block of State Hwy 183. The vehicle then struck the curb at 1800 Park Place."

Jones had crashed into and damaged the sixteen year old Buick of 78 year old Nelson Walraven of Euless. Jones was witnessed smashing into Walraven's vehicle and  then leaving the scene by Stacey Warner of North Richland Hills who flagged down a Bedford Police officer as well.

At 4:54 pm Jones was leaving the Chili's Restaurant at the 2400 Block of Airport Freeway. When Jones was pulled over, according to Euless Police Officer Michelle Rodela, Jones "smelled of alcoholic beverage" and was given a sobriety test. Jones "failed each test," and was taken into custody, "handcuffed, doubled locked and seated in patrol unit 22."

A fully loaded semi-automatic Glock Pistol, similar to the one above, was found in Jones' suburban with 3 clips and a total of 23 rounds of ammunition with a "speed loader".

When a computer check reported Jones to have a license for a concealed weapon the officer asked him if he had a gun.  Jones first stated he could not remember, maybe he had "left it at home," but later stated the gun was by the driver's seat. Texas Law states that anyone arrested on a DWI violating the concealed weapons law loses the right to carry a weapon for a minimum of five years.

To read Bedford Police Officer Michelle Rodela's police report on initially arresting Jones, Click Here ( in PDF format).

The Tarrant County DWI report stated that Jones's clothes were "disorderly," and that he "swayed" and "slurred his speech." The report also said there was an 8 ounce cup of "whiskey."  Jones was written up as "staggering" out of the vehicle and "slow in speech."  Click Here to see the DWI report (in PDF Format) 

Jones was transported to the Euless Police Department for a Intoxilyzer test and showed more than twice the current allowable level by Texas law.

Jones was later given an Intoxilyzer breath test at the Euless Police Dept. Jones' alcohol content was more than twice the current level allowed by Texas law. An .08 is the current maximum allowable and Jones was certified as having .191 and a .182 level.

Jones was released the evening of March 23, 1999, "pending further investigation." According to police reports, on March 24, 1999 at 12:15 pm Jones came to the Bedford Police Department to "take possession of the holster" and received a copy of a citation.  He was given a copy of "Notice of Suspension" (of permission to carry), along with the citation.

On March 25, 1999, Bedford Police Investigator R.S. Hagler presented an affidavit to the Magistrate Judge that in part stated that Jones, "committed the offense of Unlawful Carrying of Handgun by Licensed Holder-Intoxicated, to wit; Defendant Mark Anthony Jones intentionally or knowingly or recklessly carried a handgun while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle.."  A warrant was  issued for the arrest of Mark Jones of Colleyville, Click Here to see a PDF copy of the Arrest Warrants and statement by the Bedford Police Investigator.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that Jones was sentenced on September 23, 1999 for a "Class B Misdemeanor" to 90 days in jail.  Jones was given the option to pay a fine or confinement. The records report that, "Subject has been found guilty of a criminal charge, either upon a criminal trial,  a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere."  Click Here for Public Safety Report.

Jones was also placed on 24 months probation until October 1, 2001. CLICK ON FORM TO ENLARGE......

Jones has been the center of controversy surrounding the veto of Colleyville's Planning and Zoning appointments by Mayor Joe Hocutt.  Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Tigue has refused to consider any compromise to settling the impasse that did not include Jones remaining on the Planning and Zoning.  At the last work shop Councilman Mark Skinner announced that he would continue to support Hocutt's veto of appointees because he was not comfortable with them being the "gate-keepers of the city."  The result of the Hocutt, Tigue and Skinner coalition has been to block new appointees to the P&Z and allowed Jones to remain as a Commissioner well past his expired term of September 2003.

Mark Jones above as he appeared serving on the P&Z. He continues to serve seven months past his expiration of term because of vetoes.  Recently, Jones made appearance changes, apparently upon his determination to be a city council candidate.

Campaign photo provided by Jones campaign in March 2004. Ads appeared in the Arp owned local paper touting his Colleyville Chamber and other service since 2000.

Jones was appointed to the P&Z in September 2001, actually one month before his 24 month probation period expired.  Jones made no disclosures concerning the criminal offense on his P&Z application.

After Jones filed for city council to replace Ginny Tigue in February ads immediately began appearing in the Donna Arp owned local newspaper.  The ads tout Jones' accomplishments since 2000 and highlight his Colleyville Chamber activities.  Jones continues to occupy a seat on the Colleyville Planning and Zoning Commission now with only five members.  Other than Jones, two members, Earl Swift and Jeff Wall have been embroiled in ethics hearings concerning their attitude and actions on P&Z in matters pertaining to developer David Bagwell.  Bagwell has testified that Swift and Wall held up his projects based on personal bias and their claims that another Bagwell project somehow caused siltation problems in the pond in Monticello where Swift, Wall and Mayor Hocutt live.

Gasper, in middle between Jeff Wall and Earl Swift.  The ethics hearings testimony has revealed at one point that Swift was overheard saying that Bagwell should, "have his ass run out of town."

Of the three complaints that have been filed with the Colleyville Ethics Commission, two were filed against other P&Z members Jeff Wall and Earl Swift and one filed by two-time council candidate Jo Ann Gasper against her opponent former Mayor Richard Newton.  Gasper claimed Newton had committed "moral turpitude" for failing to reveal on his council application that Gasper had filed a complaint with the Texas Election Commission against Newton.  The complaint was dismissed by the Election Commission and the Colleyville Commission.  Gasper, previously appointed to P&Z, withdrew her name from consideration when it was revealed she failed to report a financial contribution she solicited from developer David Bagwell.

Jones filed for Colleyville City Council on February 24, 2004 and his application was notarized by City Secretary Cynthia Singleton.  The Affidavit states, under oath that the applicant has completed the application providing all information as required.

The  Affidavit filed by Jones includes Form 6.  Jones checked the box that he has had a Personal Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, however the bottom of the form requires disclosure of  any Misdemeanor, "involving moral turpitude."  The definition of "moral turpitude" appears to be a very subjective issue.  For example, two-time council candidate Jo Ann Gasper filed a complaint based on "moral turpitude" because Richard Newton failed to disclose her complaint against him with the Texas Election Commission.  

Jones did not disclose the DWI conviction on his recent applications for either P&Z or as a city council candidate under the "moral turpitude" section. To see a copy of the pertinent pages of Jones' application for Colleyville City Council, Click Here for PDF

The definition, per the city council packet provided to candidates, is that "Moral turpitude" means the quality of a crime involving grave infringement of the moral sentiment of the community.  

Concerning the concept of "grave infringement of the moral sentiment of the community," Sunday March 21, 2004, The Missourian reported on the struggle in Missouri concerning citizens with concealed licenses to carry guns and alcohol.

There is an obvious link between gun violence and alcohol, as well as the tragedy suffered by thousands of families each year due to drunk drivers.

If no action is taken by Colleyville City Council in the Jones matter, the definition of "moral turpitude" is likely to be considered a very elusive matter. Consider, a complaint about a political opponent's sign to the Elections Commission was considered "moral turpitude" by some, versus the serious crime of being arrested for both drunk driving and having a weapon while intoxicated, as described above. If  these offenses do not rise to "moral turpitude," then citizens are likely to ask just what offense will reach "moral turpitude involving grave infringement of the moral sentiment of the community? 

Click  Here to read a column concerning this article.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports over the past 20 years that 40% to 60% of all killed in automobile crashes are alcohol related.

Calendar Year	Total Killed in Alcohol Related Crashes		Total Killed in All Traffic Crashes
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
1982	26,173	60%	43,945	100.0%
1983	24,635	58%	42,589	100.0%
1984	24,762	56%	44,257	100.0%
1985	23,167	53%	43,825	100.0%
1986	25,017	54%	46,087	100.0%
1987	24,094	52%	46,390	100.0%
1988	23,833	51%	47,087	100.0%
1989	22,424	49%	45,582	100.0%
1990	22,587	51%	44,599	100.0%
1991	20,159	49%	41,508	100.0%
1992	18,290	47%	39,250	100.0%
1993	17,908	45%	40,150	100.0%
1994	17,308	43%	40,716	100.0%
1995	17,732	42%	41,817	100.0%
1996	17,749	42%	42,065	100.0%
1997	16,711	40%	42,013	100.0%
1998	16,673	40%	41,501	100.0%
1999	16,572	40%	41,717	100.0%
2000	17,380	41%	41,945	100.0%
2001	17,400	41%	42,196	100.0%
2002**	17,419	41%	42,815	100.0%

*Source - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS data
**As of July 17, 2003

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